I had a private session with Rinzi Ruiz in downtown Los Angeles (DTLA). As my photography evolves, I am making an effort to spend more time with people that can share their expertise. Like all of us, I improve on my own by shooting a lot and studying the work of people I admire. That said, there is something to be said about spending time with a person better than I am.

My day with Rinzi was great. We started out discussing philosophy, mindset and approach. It was a great way to ease into the day. Though I was eager to hit the streets, starting the way we did was great. Once we hit the streets, I realized that we were on Rinzi’s turf. He knows the streets of DTLA like the back of his hand. To do a full review of my session with him would require quite a long post, so I’ll save you the pain. Ultimately, my time with Rinzi was great because we were able to talk tempo, framing, camera technique and how our energy as a photographer can greatly affect the subjects we shoot in street photography. If you find yourself in Los Angeles or in any other city where Rinzi is working, schedule some time with him. You’ll be happy you did.